By Jose Cielito Reganit/Philippine News Agency
MANILA — A first-term lawmaker from Isabela on Tuesday said he has filed a measure seeking to move the synchronized Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) polls from May 2020 to May 2023, essentially giving incumbent officials a five-year term.
Isabela 6th District Rep. Faustino Dy V said he filed House Bill No. 47, An Act Postponing the May 2020 Barangay and SK Elections, in line with the call of members of the Liga ng mga Barangay (LNB) to be granted “a fixed term that will give them enough time to implement and promote long-term programs and advocacies without interruption and political interference.”
Under the bill filed Monday, the synchronized barangay and SK polls scheduled on the second Monday of May 2020 shall be moved to the second Monday of May 2023.
The succeeding elections shall be conducted every five years thereafter.
If passed into law, the measure will affect over 670,000 barangay and SK officials belonging to the country’s 41,948 barangays.
In pushing for the passage of the bill, the former LNB national president noted that barangay and SK officials elected in May last year would only serve a “woefully short, and inadequate two-year term” if the local elections were held as scheduled next year.
“As a former barangay official, I know firsthand that given the functions and duties barangay execs are expected to fulfill, the current term of office set by law is too short for them to implement meaningful and sustainable developmental programs at the grassroots level,” Dy said.
“There is a need for barangay executives to serve full five-year terms to better serve their constituents and to ensure uninterrupted government frontline services,” he added.
Dy said the passage of the bill would give the country a much-needed break in politics.
The youngest male legislator in the House at 26 pointed out that pushing through with barangay elections next year will mark the third straight year voters will troop to the polls.
“That’s four elections in a span of five years, from 2016 to 2020. Let’s give our people, our teachers, a much-deserved break,” he said.
“Tama na muna ang pulitika, trabaho muna (Enough on politics, for now, duties first). Our barangay officials just want to work,” Dy said.
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